Monday, February 22, 1999
Ohio, Ky. aim to keep funds from tobacco suit
BY PAUL BARTON
Enquirer Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — Governors Bob Taft of Ohio and Paul Patton of Kentucky will tell President Clinton today that the federal government should keep its hands off money the states won from the tobacco industry.
The threatened federal “recoupment” of money that 44 states obtained from tobacco companies in a $206 billion settlement in November was a dominant topic Sunday at the winter meeting of the National Governors' Association.
The issue will be raised when governors meet with the president at the White House.
“Certainly we are going to be strong on that,” Mr. Patton said of the message that Mr. Clinton will hear.
Under the settlement, Ohio is scheduled to get close to $10 billion, Kentucky $3.45 billion and Indiana $4 billion to cover smoking related costs in the Medicaid program.
Federal officials are saying they are entitled to 60 to 80 percent of those funds because the federal share of Medicaid, the government health program for the poor and elderly, is usually that high.
But state officials say they fought the legal battle and ought to be able to keep all the money.
“I think it is important the governors take a very firm and united stand with the president and Congress,” Mr. Taft said.
Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, has already introduced legislation to keep federal officials from recouping the money.
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